Surname Kristiansen - Meaning and Origin
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Kristiansen: What does the surname Kristiansen mean?
Kristiansen is a predominantly Scandinavian surname, derived from the first name Kristian. Kristian is derived from the Latin name Christianus, which translates into ‘follower of Christ’ or ‘believer’ in English. It is a patronymic surname, meaning that it is derived from the first name of the father, and is often found in families of Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish origins.
Since the name is often found in Scandinavian countries, it is more common in Northern Europe. It is believed that the name was given to families living near a church, as those families considered themselves to be devoted Christians.
Notably, Kristiansen is the eighth most common surname found in Norway, with an estimate of 72,585 people using this name. It has also been used as the surname of prominent Norwegian political figures and actors.
In summary, Kristiansen is a Scandinavian surname derived from the first name Kristian, which means ‘follower of Christ’. It is a patronymic surname, greatly influencing Northern European countries, particularly Norway. It is also the 8th most common surname in Norway.
Order DNA origin analysisKristiansen: Where does the name Kristiansen come from?
The last name Kristiansen is a patronymic name, often associated with Norway and other Scandinavian countries. It is derived from the first name Christian, and translates to "son of Christian" or "son of Kristian". This is a popular surname in Scandinavian countries, including Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Iceland. In Sweden it is the 12th most common surname.
In 2007, the last name Kristiansen was the sixth most common surname in Norway, with over 33,000 people having the surname. It was particularly common in the West and East coasts in Norway.
The last name is also common in other parts of Europe. In England and Wales, it was the 8th most common non-native surname in the 2019 census. It is also popular in Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Canada, the United States, and Australia, where it is the 85th most popular surname.
In the United States, the last name Kristiansen is among the top 20% of names. It is particularly common in the states of Illinois, Florida, New Jersey, Texas, Massachusetts, Washington, and Alaska.
Overall, the last name Kristiansen is a common name with deep roots in Scandinavia. It is popular in the birthplace of its origin, and is also gaining popularity in other parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Kristiansen
The variants, spellings, and surnames of Kristiansen all share the same origin. The root of the surname is the Old Norse given name Kristjan, which derives from the Greek name Christian.
Variation and alternate spellings of Kristiansen include: Kristensen, Kristianson, Kristiansson, Christian, Christensen, Christiansen, Christianson, and Christiansson. These can be further broken down into more specific subvariants with regional differences, such as the German forms Christ, Christmann, and Christel.
In Norway, the version of the name is often found as Kristiansen. In other Scandinavian countries or areas it is typically spelled Christensen, meaning "son of Christian". In Germany, the name is spelled Christmann or Christel. In the US, the most common variants are Christensen, Christiansen, Christianson, and Christiansson.
The name has seen many changes over time as it has traveled between countries and become localized. It reflects the influence of different cultures over many centuries, with each one adding its own regional flavor to the name.
In some countries, there are variations of the name that use a prefix or suffix. For example, in Denmark, the prefix “-sen” is often added, creating Kristiansen, while in Sweden the “-son” suffix is used to create Christiansson.
No matter the particular variant, spellings, or surnames used, they all share the same origin and signify someone of Christian heritage.
Famous people with the name Kristiansen
- Helle Thorning-Schmidt, former Prime Minister of Denmark and the second female Prime Minister of that country.
- Lasse Kristiansen, Danish football player and the only Danish player to have won the Danish Football Player of the Year award twice.
- Jørgen Kristiansen, Norwegian football player who played for Rosenborg BK and the Norway national team.
- Henrik Kristiansen, Norwegian singer-songwriter and lead vocalist of the band A-ha.
- Hans Christian Kristiansen, Danish fencer who competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics.
- Sissel Kyrkjebø, Norwegian singer who has achieved global stardom.
- Mogens Kristiansen, Danish footballer who played in the 1970s and early 1980s.
- Kjetil André Aamodt, Norwegian alpine skier and the most successful male alpine skier of all time.
- Ole Kristian Strømsvåg, Norwegian speed skater who won thirteen Olympic medals.
- Lars Kristian Eriksen, Norwegian jazz musician and composer.